Although the iconic mural on East 7th Street is being demolished, it’s not exactly the end of the road for Willie yet.
AUSTIN, Texas — An iconic mural on East Seventh Street in Austin, featuring Willie Nelson and Janis Joplin, is in the process of being torn down. The building’s owners have plans to turn it into a new high-rise development.
Local Austin artist Wiley Ross made the building at 407 East Seventh St. come to life with an image of Willie for the Heart of Texas Rockfest in early 2016. Heart of Texas Rockfest founder, Adam Brewer had gotten permission from the building owner at the time, and from Willie, to do the mural as a tribute to the Austin icon. A year later Ross added Janis Joplin.
“It’s surreal to see something you did, you know, torn down,” said Ross.
Ross has created about 20 to 30 murals of Texas legends and other artwork throughout the city, which have come to be known as landmarks for Austin locals and visitors alike.
“That, to me, that blows my mind and it warms my heart,” Ross said. “I’m really grateful to the city of Austin and to the people.”
But Ross said the Nelson mural has had the biggest impact on the community.
“I think it’s, I don’t know, sort of a visual manifestation of the spirit of Austin,” Ross said. “I never thought that it would touch as many people as it did.”
The nearly 100-year-old building was once home to Mug Shots bar, but was damaged by a fire last February.
Ross knew the building would eventually get demolished, but it came as a shock to him this week, seeing it be demolished while he was at the building. At the time, he was talking with the building owner about creating a new Nelson mural next door.
“He didn’t have to do that, but he loved the mural, and he, you know, really cared about keeping that sort of spirit in Austin,” Ross said.
Even though the walls are coming down on the old mural, Ross is set to start working on the new one at Seven Grand, a bar right next to the old building.
Over his years of creating murals in Austin, Ross said he’s grateful that they have touched people and meant something to them.
“I look at the world like a canvas,” Ross said. “That they would let me, you know, decorate their world too, is very heartwarming to me.”
The Janis Joplin painting on the building has already been demolished, but construction crews said they could start on the Willie Nelson side as soon as Sunday.